The great Aus Press does it again- distorts for it

Nile calls for Muslim headscarf ban
November 21 2002

My comment:- As I understand it the chador is not a head scarf but those billowing clothes women wear, but do the newspapers let the truth get in the way? No way. Let's paint Nile black!!!

Islamic leaders have condemned a call by a NSW MP to ban Muslim women from wearing their traditional dress for fear it could conceal "both weapons and explosives".

Christian Democrat MLC, Reverend Fred Nile, sparked an uproar in parliament today after urging the government to consider banning the wearing of the chador in public places.

Citing the recent Moscow theatre siege as an example of how the dress could be used to stage a terrorist attack, Rev Nile said the recent terrorist threat on Australia was reason to ban it.

"Is it fact that such a total body covering completely conceals a person's identity and even whether they are male or female, which is a perfect disguise for terrorists as it conceals both weapons and explosives?

"Will the government, in view of the new terrorist threat as part of our new Australian security precautions, consider a prohibition on the wearing of the chador in public places, especially at railway stations, city streets and shopping centres?"



The question drew condemnation from other MPs who accused Rev Nile of religious intolerance.

Responding to the call, NSW Police Minister Michael Costa swiftly rejected the request.

The Lebanese-Muslim Association accused Rev Nile of trying to score political points.

"The scarf is about modesty, not about violence and there is not an incident in history of a woman in Australia engaging in violence while wearing the scarf," said association spokesman, Keysar Trad.

"He's riding on the fear that exists out there and exploiting it for possible political gain.

"But what he is actually doing is causing a lot of hurt to a lot of people and raising further suspicion and fear."

Mr Trad said he believed the majority of the community had no problem with the scarf.

With National Scarf Day being held on November 29, Mr Trad said the community had an opportunity to experience first-hand what it was like to wear the dress.

AAP